Optical component holder having alignment feature for forming press-fit and an optical subassembly using same

Abstract

An optical component holder having a base portion with a chamfered (or step) portion is disclosed herein that allows a technician to position and partially insert the same within an associated opening using a relatively minor amount of force. The chamfered portion of the base portion operates, in a general sense, as a guide that ensures proper alignment of the optical component holder and allows the same to travel a predetermined distance within the opening before being blocked from further travel by “bottoming” out when the wider portion of the base is at the edge of the associated opening. Thus, the chamfered portion provides an alignment feature to provide tactile feedback that indicates to the technician that the optical component holder is aligned and evenly inserted into an associated opening prior to supplying additional force to press the optical component holder fully into a housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An optical component holder comprising:
 an elongated base portion defined by a wall that extends from a first end to a second end along a longitudinal axis of the elongated base portion; 
 a mounting region defined by a surface of the base portion, the mounting region for coupling to at least one optical component; and 
 wherein the base portion is defined by a first portion having a first crosswise width that transitions to a second portion having a second crosswise width, the first crosswise width being less than the second crosswise width to define a step region, the step region configured to allow the first portion of the elongated base portion to at least partially extend into a sidewall opening of a subassembly housing for alignment purposes prior to insertion of the second base portion into the sidewall opening to form a press-fit. 
 
     
     
       2. The optical component holder of  claim 1 , wherein the step region includes a step region surface defined at least in part by the first portion of the elongated base portion, the step region surface having a width that is uniform around a perimeter of the elongated base portion. 
     
     
       3. The optical component holder of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated base portion includes a recessed region disposed opposite the mounting region. 
     
     
       4. The optical component holder of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated base portion is defined by a first arcuate region adjacent the first end and a second arcuate region adjacent the second end. 
     
     
       5. The optical component holder of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the elongated base portion includes a shape different from that of the second end of the elongated base. 
     
     
       6. The optical component holder of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting region includes at least one opening for receiving and coupling to the at least one optical component. 
     
     
       7. The optical component holder of  claim 6 , further comprising at least one optical component coupled to a surface defining the at least one opening, and wherein the surface of the at least one opening includes a predetermined angle relative to a surface of the mounting region. 
     
     
       8. The optical component holder of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical component is a mirror configured to reflect incident light. 
     
     
       9. An optical subassembly comprising:
 a housing having a plurality of sidewalls, the plurality of sidewalls defining a cavity within the housing; 
 an opening disposed on a sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls; and 
 an optical component holder disposed at least partially within the opening, wherein the optical component holder includes:
 a base portion defined by a wall that extends from a first end to a second end along a longitudinal axis of the base portion; 
 a mounting region defined by a surface of the base portion, the mounting region for coupling to at least one optical component; and 
 wherein the base portion is defined by a first portion having a first crosswise width that transitions to a second portion having a second crosswise width, the first crosswise width being less than the second crosswise width to define a step region, the step region configured to allow the first portion of the base portion to at least partially extend into the opening of a subassembly housing for alignment purposes prior to insertion of the second base portion into the opening to form a press-fit. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The optical subassembly of  claim 9 , wherein the step region includes a step region surface defined at least in part by the first portion of the base portion, the step region surface having a width that is uniform around a perimeter of the base portion. 
     
     
       11. The optical subassembly of  claim 9 , wherein the base portion includes a recessed region disposed opposite the mounting region. 
     
     
       12. The optical subassembly of  claim 9 , wherein the base portion provides a substantially flat surface that is coplanar with a surface of the sidewall when the optical component holder is press fit into the sidewall opening. 
     
     
       13. The optical subassembly of  claim 9 , wherein the base portion is defined by a first arcuate region adjacent the first end and a second arcuate region adjacent the second end. 
     
     
       14. The optical subassembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first end of the base includes a shape different from that of the second end of the base portion. 
     
     
       15. The optical subassembly of  claim 9 , wherein the mounting region includes at least one opening for receiving and coupling to the at least one optical component. 
     
     
       16. The optical subassembly of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one optical component coupled to a surface defining the at least one opening, and wherein the surface of the at least one opening includes a predetermined angle relative to a surface of the mounting region. 
     
     
       17. The optical subassembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of optical components coupled to the mounting region. 
     
     
       18. The optical subassembly of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one optical component is a mirror configured to reflect incident channel wavelengths. 
     
     
       19. The optical subassembly of  claim 9  implemented as a receiver optical subassembly.